Episode 69: Dr. Yolanda Gomez Part 1: Standing Up for Yourself as a Resident

In this two-part episode, Dr. Rui Ariyapala sits down with Dr. Yolanda Gomez, a Board-Certified Pediatrician with an impressive career in both clinical practice and medical education leadership. Dr. Gomez earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan before launching her career as a general pediatrician in private practice. After taking a year off to focus on family, she returned to academia, serving as Director of the Primary Care Clinic at the UPR Pediatrics Department, where she supervised students and residents. Her leadership skills quickly propelled her to become the Pediatrics Residency Program Director, a role she held from 1996 to 2001.

In 2001, Dr. Gomez was appointed Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Designated Institutional Official (DIO) at the UPR School of Medicine, stepping into the role just as the institution’s GME office faced probation by the ACGME. Through her efforts, the office was removed from probation in 2003, earning her praise for her transformative changes. She continued to lead in this capacity until 2014, when she joined the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, helping to establish 11 new residency programs as Associate Dean for GME and DIO at the UT Rio Grande Valley.

In 2019, Dr. Gomez transitioned to the University of Oklahoma’s School of Community Medicine in Tulsa, where she currently serves as Associate Dean for GME and DIO. In this role, she oversees ACGME-accredited programs while championing resident wellbeing throughout their training.

In part 1 of our conversation, Dr. Gomez shares her personal experiences as a resident, including a pivotal moment when she stood up to an attending physician—a defining moment in her career. Stay tuned for part 2, where we dive into her leadership journey and how she continues to prioritize resident wellbeing in her work.